22 Lime Cocktails Made With Gin, Whiskey, Rum and Vodka

Published May 13, 2022
Bartender equipment and cocktail ingredients - shaker, lime and ice

There's a good reason lime is such a staple in so many cocktails. You can capitalize on its sour flavors or soften the blow by making it smooth and sweet. This flavor is an easy favorite, whether you shake up a lime cocktail with cordial, infused liquor, or by whipping up a few cocktails with lime juice.

Gin and Lime Cocktails

Sour and gin go well together, as herbal juniper notes create an excellent balance to lime flavors.

Gin Gimlet

Push the lime into the spotlight in a classic gimlet.

Gimlet

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Chill a martini glass or coupe.
  2. In a cocktail shaker, add ice, gin, lime juice, and simple syrup.
  3. Shake to chill.
  4. Strain into chilled glass.
  5. Garnish with lime ribbon.

Gin Rickey

There's nowhere for the sour flavors of lime to head in a Gin Rickey cocktail, making it ideal for those who love lime.

Gin Rickey

Ingredients

  • 2 ounces gin
  • ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
  • Ice
  • Club soda to top off
  • Lime wedge for garnish

Instructions

  1. In a highball glass, add ice, gin, and lime juice.
  2. Top off with club soda.
  3. Garnish with lime wedge.

Aperol Gin Cocktail

Play with sour and soft bitter flavors in this simple apéritif cocktail.

Aperol Gin Cocktail

Ingredients

  • 2 ounces gin
  • 1 ounce Aperol
  • 1 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
  • ½ ounce simple syrup
  • Ice
  • Club soda to top off
  • Lime wheel for garnish

Instructions

  1. In a cocktail shaker, add ice, gin, Aperol, lime juice, and simple syrup.
  2. Shake to chill.
  3. Strain into rocks glass over fresh ice.
  4. Garnish with lime wheel.

The Bad Word

A riff on the Last Word, this lime cocktail is quite a bit more bitter than its counterpart but still packs a sour touch.

The bad word cocktail

Ingredients

  • ¾ ounce gin
  • ¾ ounce green chartreuse
  • ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
  • ¾ ounce Gran Classico or Campari
  • Ice
  • Lime wedge for garnish

Instructions

  1. Chill a martini glass or coupe.
  2. In a cocktail shaker, add ice, gin, green chartreuse, lime juice, and Gran Classico.
  3. Shake to chill.
  4. Strain into chilled glass.
  5. Garnish with lime wedge.

The Last Word

The last word is a wonderfully classic cocktail that's herbaceous, sour, and the right amount of sweet.

The last word cocktail

Ingredients

  • ¾ ounce gin
  • ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
  • ¾ ounce maraschino liqueur
  • ¾ ounce green chartreuse
  • Ice
  • Cocktail cherry for garnish, optional

Instructions

  1. Chill a martini glass or coupe.
  2. In a cocktail shaker, add ice, gin, lime juice, maraschino liqueur, and green chartreuse.
  3. Shake to chill.
  4. Strain into chilled glass.
  5. Garnish with cocktail cherry.

Whiskey and Lime Cocktails

You may not think that whiskey and lime make for a good match, but you'll soon change your tune after considering one of these recipes.

Kentucky Mule

With a few swaps, your simple mule cocktail becomes a sour bourbon dream.

Kentucky Mule in a copper mug on an old wooden table

Ingredients

  • 2 ounces bourbon
  • ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
  • Ice
  • Ginger beer to top off
  • Lime wedge and mint sprig

Instructions

  1. In a rocks glass or copper mug, add ice, bourbon, and lime juice.
  2. Top off with ginger beer.
  3. Garnish with lime wedge and mint sprig.

Bourbon Rickey

Swap your gin for bourbon in this lime rickey.

Bourbon Rickey Cocktail

Ingredients

  • 1½ ounces bourbon
  • ½ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
  • Ice
  • Club soda to top off
  • Lime wedge for garnish

Instructions

  1. In a rocks or highball glass, add ice, bourbon, and lime juice.
  2. Top off with club soda.
  3. Garnish with lime wedge.

Lime Whiskey Sour

Lemon gets the night off in this changeup on a traditional whiskey sour.

Lime whiskey sour

Ingredients

  • 2 ounces whiskey
  • ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
  • ½ ounce simple syrup
  • 1 egg white
  • Crushed ice
  • Orange ribbon, cherry, and lime wedge for garnish

Instructions

  1. In a cocktail shaker, add bourbon, lime juice, simple syrup, and egg white.
  2. Dry shake for approximately 45 seconds to mix ingredients and create a froth.
  3. Add ice to shaker.
  4. Shake to chill.
  5. Strain into rocks glass over crushed ice.
  6. Garnish with orange ribbon, cherry, and lime wedge.

Nor'easter

Don't take this cocktail lightly, as it packs a punch just like its namesake windstorm.

Nor’easter cocktail

Ingredients

  • 3 ounces bourbon
  • 1 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
  • ¾ ounce maple syrup
  • Ice
  • Ginger beer to top off
  • Lime wheel for garnish, optional

Instructions

  1. In a cocktail shaker, add ice, bourbon, lime juice, and maple syrup.
  2. Shake to chill.
  3. Strain into rocks glass over fresh ice.
  4. Top off with ginger beer.
  5. Garnish with lime wheel, if desired.

Rum and Lime Cocktails

Give your lime a tropical or lighter spin with rum.

Daiquiri

This daiquiri recipe calls for an entire ounce of lime juice. And if that's not enough for your lime-loving heart, add an extra splash.

Daiquiri Cocktail with a lime wheel

Ingredients

  • 1½ ounces white rum
  • 1 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
  • ¾ ounce simple syrup
  • Ice
  • Lime wheel for garnish

Instructions

  1. Chill a martini glass or coupe.
  2. In a cocktail shaker, add ice, white rum, lime juice, and simple syrup.
  3. Shake to chill.
  4. Strain into chilled glass.
  5. Garnish with lime wheel.

Mojito

You may think of mint before lime in a mojito, but it's a cocktail you can easily modify to emphasize one ingredient over another.

Mojito cocktail with lime and mint

Ingredients

  • 6-8 fresh mint leaves
  • 1½ ounces white rum
  • 1 ounce simple syrup
  • ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
  • Crushed ice
  • Club soda to top off
  • Lime wedge and mint sprig for garnish

Instructions

  1. In a cocktail shaker, muddle mint leaves with simple syrup.
  2. Add ice, white rum, and lime juice.
  3. Shake to chill.
  4. Strain into highball glass over crushed ice.
  5. Top off with club soda.
  6. Garnish with lime wedge and mint sprig.

Caipirinha

Give this Brazilian cocktail a spin by muddling an entire lime to capture fresh lime flavors.

Caipirinha cocktail outdoors

Ingredients

  • 4-5 lime wedges
  • 2 ounces cachaça
  • 1 sugar cube
  • Ice
  • Lime wheel for garnish

Instructions

  1. In a rocks glass, muddle lime wedges and sugar cube.
  2. Add ice and cachaça.
  3. Stir to mix.
  4. Garnish with lime wheel.

Papa Doble

Sometimes known as a Hemingway daiquiri, this rich daiquiri will still make you pucker in all the right ways.

Papa doble cocktail

Ingredients

  • 2 ounces gold rum
  • ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
  • ½ ounce maraschino liqueur
  • ½ ounce freshly squeezed grapefruit juice
  • Ice
  • Lime ribbon for garnish

Instructions

  1. Chill a martini glass or coupe.
  2. In a cocktail shaker, add ice, gold rum, lime juice, maraschino liqueur, and grapefruit juice.
  3. Shake to chill.
  4. Strain into chilled glass.
  5. Garnish with lime ribbon.

Cuba Libre

The classic rum and cola get a boost from lime juice in this cocktail.

Cuba Libre with brown rum,cola,mint and lime

Ingredients

  • 1½ ounces rum
  • ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
  • Ice
  • Cola to top off
  • Lime wedge and mint sprig for garnish

Instructions

  1. In a highball glass, add rum and lime juice.
  2. Top off with cola.
  3. Stir to mix.
  4. Garnish with lime wedge and mint sprig.

Vodka and Lime Cocktails

Vodka's nearly flavorless taste makes for an excellent base in lime cocktails.

Cosmopolitan

A traditional cosmo has tart flavors ready to go. If you're looking for even more lime, consider lime-infused vodka or adding an extra splash of lime juice.

Cosmopolitan

Ingredients

  • 1½ ounces citron vodka
  • ½ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
  • ½ ounce orange liqueur
  • ½ ounce cranberry juice
  • Ice
  • Lime wedge for garnish

Instructions

  1. Chill a martini glass or coupe.
  2. In a cocktail shaker, add ice, citron vodka, lime juice, orange liqueur, and cranberry juice.
  3. Shake to chill.
  4. Strain into chilled glass.
  5. Garnish with lime wedge.

Lime Drop Martini

Skip the traditional lemon drop in favor of this new-age version.

Lime drop martini

Ingredients

  • Lime wedge and sugar for rim
  • 2 ounces lime vodka
  • 1 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
  • ¾ ounce simple syrup
  • ¼ ounce orange liqueur
  • Ice
  • Lime slice for garnish

Instructions

  1. Chill a martini glass or coupe.
  2. To prepare rim, rub the rim of the martini glass or coupe with the lime wedge.
  3. With the sugar on a saucer, dip either half or the entire rim of the glass in the sugar to coat.
  4. In a cocktail shaker, add ice, lime vodka, lime juice, simple syrup, and orange liqueur.
  5. Shake to chill.
  6. Strain into prepared glass.
  7. Garnish with lime slice.

Caipiroska

Rely on vodka in this riff on the caipirinha. The lime will shine even more!

Caipiroska cocktail with ice and lime slice

Ingredients

  • 4-5 lime wedges
  • 2 ounces vodka
  • 1-2 sugar cubes
  • Ice

Instructions

  1. In a rocks glass, muddle lime wedges with sugar cubes.
  2. Add ice and vodka.
  3. Stir to mix.

Kamikaze

Usually enjoyed a shot, the tasty kamikaze lime drink makes for an incredible martini to sip slowly in the sunshine.

Kamikaze martini

Ingredients

  • 2 ounces vodka
  • 1 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
  • ¾ ounce orange liqueur
  • Ice
  • Lime wedge for garnish

Instructions

  1. Chill a martini glass or coupe.
  2. In a cocktail shaker, add ice, vodka, lime juice, and orange liqueur.
  3. Shake to chill.
  4. Strain into chilled glass.
  5. Garnish with lime wedge.

Vodka Lime Highball

Don't forget that you can always keep it simple with a perfectly sour lime highball.

Vodka lime highball

Ingredients

  • 1½ ounces vodka
  • ¾ ounce lime cordial
  • Ice
  • Club soda to top off
  • Lime wheel for garnish

Instructions

  1. In a highball glass, add ice, vodka, and lime cordial.
  2. Top off with club soda.
  3. Garnish with lime wheel.

Traditional and Unexpected Lime Cocktails

Highlight lime flavors in traditional cocktails or with an unusual pairing.

Margarita

A classic margarita relies on lime to do the heavy lifting to keep the ingredients balanced. Opt for equal parts tequila and lime juice if you want even more of that flavor.

Margarita cocktail with lime and mint

Ingredients

  • Lime wedge and salt for rim
  • 1½ ounces tequila
  • 1 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
  • ½ ounce orange liqueur
  • ½ ounce agave
  • Ice
  • Lime slice for garnish

Instructions

  1. To prepare rim, rub the rim of the glass with the lime wedge.
  2. With the salt on a saucer, dip either half or the entire rim of the glass in the salt to coat.
  3. In a cocktail shaker, add ice, tequila, lime juice, orange liqueur, and agave.
  4. Shake to chill.
  5. Strain into prepared glass.
  6. Garnish with lime slice.

Tequila Sour

Skip a few margarita ingredients, add an egg white, and you have a protein-packed tequila drink.

Tequila Sour

Ingredients

  • 2 ounces tequila
  • ¾ ounce simple syrup
  • ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
  • 1 egg white
  • Ice
  • Lime wheel for garnish

Instructions

  1. In a cocktail shaker, add tequila, simple syrup, lime juice, and egg white.
  2. Dry shake for approximately 45 seconds to mix ingredients and create a froth.
  3. Add ice to shaker.
  4. Shake to chill.
  5. Strain into rocks glass over fresh ice.
  6. Garnish with lime wheel.

Fernet Sour

Occasionally known as the industry sour, bitter Fernet and lime create a memorable and divisive cocktail.

Fernet Sour

Ingredients

  • 1½ ounces Fernet
  • ¾ ounce green chartreuse
  • 1 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
  • ¾ ounce simple syrup
  • 1 egg white
  • Ice
  • Lemon twist for garnish, optional

Instructions

  1. Chill a martini glass or coupe.
  2. In a cocktail shaker, add Fernet, green chartreuse, lime juice, simple syrup, and egg white.
  3. Dry shake for approximately 45 seconds to mix ingredients and create a froth.
  4. Add ice to shaker.
  5. Shake to chill.
  6. Strain into chilled glass.
  7. Garnish with lemon twist, if desired.

Lime Cocktails to Delight and Surprise

On your next trip to the store, grab a bag of limes as you tackle your grocery list. Bottled lime juice, while convenient, doesn't hold a candle to a cocktail made with freshly squeezed lime juice. Or use those limes to infuse your favorite spirit. However you go about it, add a little zest to life with lime cocktails.

22 Lime Cocktails Made With Gin, Whiskey, Rum and Vodka